Meekness

Scripture

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

~Matthew 11:28-29, NKJV

Quote

The man who knows that he doesn’t know is wiser than the man who doesn’t know that he doesn’t know.

~Socrates

Just so you know: I have a degree in Philosophy. I agree with Socrates, the more you know, the more you know that you don’t know. Einstein stated it in principle, but I have coined the quote: “Man is infinite in ignorance alone. In every other way, he is finite.” A woman helped me in a COLS a few years back, she was a Methodist and was serving in one of the local Methodist churches. I was determined not to listen to her, but she said something that I have never forgotten…it was a quote...”When the student is ready the teacher will appear.” Today I listened to Elisebeth Elliott on YouTube as she expounded on Jesus promise in Matthew 11:28-29 and her topic was “Meekness.” Sometimes we associate meekness with weakness, but nothing could be further from the truth. True meekness {Jesus} is the greatest and most irresistible power in the universe. Of course, the world does not believe this to be true. The world lauds the high and mighty, but all the dictators combined have not impacted the world like Jesus. Think about it, Jesus never held an office. He never served as the president of the synagogue nor as a priest in the temple. He was never appointed governor or king. It all goes back to two Greek words found in the text above. The NKJV translates them ‘gentle’ and ‘lowly’. The AV translates them ‘meek’ and ‘lowly.’ The NASB and NLT translate the ‘gentle’ and ‘humble.’ Meekness is a gentle and humble disposition. The Greek word for humble or lowly is tap-i-nos’ and it can be translated–not far from the ground, lowly, of low degree, brought loo by grief or suffering, lowly in spirit or humble.

Case in point was Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. His meekness, His willingness to stoop may have appeared as weakness to the proud but it was a show of strength. Those who have healthy self-esteem {Jesus had perfect self-esteem} have the confidence to engage in lowly, even despised acts of kindness without any anxiety or concern about what others will think. Jesus was a carpenter by trade, and I think He was a wood worker not a mason. Matter of fact, I think He made yokes. I know for sure that He did not make promises He could not keep, and He said, “Get in the yoke with me {My Yoke upon you} and I will give you some rest.” The thing about the yoke is that it is designed so that two oxen can pull as one. The yoke is the cross beam that unites the two beasts. The yoke fits above the neck. No yoked oxen can look back or up; they can only see straight ahead. To get yoked with Jesus, we have to bend the neck and that takes humility. The good news is, He is infinitely stronger than us and there is no load that He cannot pull. Do not be afraid to bend the neck or to get into the yoke with Jesus. There is a whole new world inside the yoke; one that many will never experience due to their fear of commitment and they obsession to be in control.

Extra

Ladies, YouTube is loaded with many of Elisebeth Elliott’s messages. I highly recommend you listen to her. She also has great stories.

Well, who would have imagined a drought in May. I do remember many years ago a drought in April and May. It was even dry at Easter that year. I try not to think about our need for rain but I can’t help it. I am not complaining; just confessing. There was a huge storm the other night {the night of the eclipse} and I sat up waiting for it. It fizzled out before it got her. We got thunder but no rain.

LORD willing, I get to go fishing with John Wydner this evening at 2:00. We are going Bream fishing. It is the first time I have been since 1992. I went then with Larry Garner. I am excited.

Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.

 

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